A first stay at a Brighton boarder or day care

A first stay works best when both sides know what to expect, especially in Brighton, where fifteen of the seventeen businesses listed are home boarders rather than a kennel block, meaning your dog would stay in someone's house rather than a purpose-built run. What follows is a general walkthrough, not advice specific to any one business; every business runs its own booking process, so treat this as what to expect and what to ask, not a fixed procedure.

Before you book

Ask for a trial visit or a meet-and-greet before the first proper stay, particularly with a home boarder: a short visit lets the boarder see how your dog settles, and lets you see the house, the garden and any other dogs likely to be there during your dates. A home boarder's full address is normally given once you have booked rather than published here, so build in time before your dates to arrange this first meeting.

What to pack

Take your dog's usual food for the length of the stay, since a sudden change of diet can upset a dog's stomach; its regular bed or blanket, which carries a familiar smell; a lead and collar or harness with an up-to-date ID tag; and any medication, clearly labelled with dosage and times. If your dog has a particular routine, a favourite toy or a fear of something specific, write it down and hand it over rather than trying to explain it all at the door.

Handover on the day

A good handover covers feeding times and amounts, any medication and how it is given, your vet's details and what should happen if your dog needs to see one while you are away, and how you can be contacted during the stay. Ask how the business confirms who is allowed to collect your dog at the end, and what happens if your plans change and you need to extend or cut short the stay.

While your dog is there

Ask in advance how often you can expect an update, whether that is a message, a photo or a call, since practice varies a great deal between one boarder and the next. For a home boarder with more than one dog at a time, ask which other dogs will be there and from how many households; for Benwick Kennels & Cattery, Brighton's one boarding kennels, ask instead how dogs are exercised and supervised through the day.

Collection

Confirm the collection time and who is collecting in advance, and ask whether the business charges extra for a late collection or a bank holiday. Keeping your dog's food and routine the same as before the stay, at least for the first day or two, tends to make the return smoother than changing everything at once.